Riverside Public Utilities Names New Board Chair, Welcomes New Members
Published: 4/15/2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 15, 2021
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
Riverside Public Utilities Names New Board Chair, Welcomes New Members
Elizabeth Sanchez-Monville named Chairperson, four new members added
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside Public Utilities Board has named Elizabeth Sanchez-Monville as Chairperson and welcomed new members Deborah Cherney, Gary Montgomery, Nancy Melendez and Rosemary Heru. Incumbent board member Gil Oceguera continues his service.
Sanchez-Monville, who was elected Board Chair on International Women’s Day, is in her second term on the RPU Board and previously served as Vice-Chair. She also serves on the Board of the Gage Canal Company, an agricultural mutual water company.
Prior to joining the Board, Sanchez-Monville spent 10 years working for the City of Riverside as a legislative analyst, managing the federal and state policy agendas for RPU. She is a graduate of the statewide leadership training program HOPE, or Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, which trains Latinas around California for leadership roles. She also serves as a board member for PIQE, Parent Institute for Quality Education, a statewide non-profit organization.
“Riverside Public Utilities has been an important part of my life, and I am eager to use the knowledge and expertise I have amassed during the past two decades to make RPU even better,” Sanchez-Monville said. “I look forward to a productive year ahead.”
Cherney, who lives in Ward 4, is one of the Citywide representatives on the Board. She is the Chief Executive Officer at the San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association and previously worked in executive roles at Eastern Municipal Water District and the Irvine Ranch Water District.
Montgomery, represents Ward 4 and is an attorney and partner at Thompson & Colegate of Riverside. He is the immediate past Board Chair of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.
Melendez represents Ward 5 and is a past member of the Board of Library Trustees. Now retired, she previously worked as Assistant Director of the RCCD Foundation and, before that, Executive Director of Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful. She co-founded the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation.
Heru represents Ward 6 and has two decades of experience in leading customer service, procurement and administration teams. She previously served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Board and the Human Relations Commission.
Oceguera, a retired high school principal, is serving his second term on the board. He lives in Ward 7 and currently serves on the board of the Gage Canal Company.
“RPU is fortunate to have a solid mix of experience and new perspectives on the Board,” General Manager Todd Corbin said. “I am eager to work with the new board members and Board Chair Sanchez-Monville to engage with our public stakeholders in moving toward a sustainable future.”
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